Scaphocapitate fracture syndrome in a child

BACKGROUND: Scaphocapitate fracture syndrome involves transverse fracture of the scaphoid and capitate, with rotation of 90 or 180 of the proximal fragment of the capitate, commonly associated with other carpal lesions. It is a rare wrist injury, usually occurs in young men and is exceptional in children. The exact mechanism remains controversial. The injury is often misdiagnosed as a simple scaphoid fracture and there has been a controversy about the treatment of the capitate fracture in this syndrome. CLINICAL CASE: The authors report a rare case of a scaphocapitate syndrome in a 15-year-old boy. Early open reduction of both fractures was performed. It was obtained a good mobility, with a normal grip strength and the radiographs showed union of both bones without avascular necrosis. DISCUSSION: Most authors agree that regardless of the radiographic appearance of the injury, open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice. The dorsal approach is the most used. The capitate fragment is usually devoid of any soft tissues and is reduced relatively easy with manual pressure, by applying traction to the hand. Reduction and fixation of the capitate must precede that of the scaphoid. K-wires or headless screws may be placed from the proximal to the distal side for the fixation of the scaphoid and capitate. The evolution is marked by the risk of occurrence of head capitate avascular necrosis CONCLUSIONS: This case report illustrates that the scaphocapitate syndrome can occur in children and is important an early diagnosis to initiate timely treatment. Our patient was successfully treated with open reduction and fixation using K-wires.

Tertiary Care Orthopedic Hospital Experience to Find Effect of Dynamisation in Delayed Union Tibia Shaft Fracture

Objective: Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of dynamisation in delayed union tibia shaft fractures. Methodology: This prospective study was conducted at the Orthopedic Department, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, from March 2020 to March 2021. During this timeframe total of 20 patients who underwent dynamisation for reamed intramedullary nailing were recruited. After two successive visits, those patients whose fracture failed to show progressive signs of callus formation underwent dynamisation. We removed the single static screw from the longer fracture segment to perform the dynamisation procedure. We inserted a poller screw slightly medial to the nail from anterior to posterior to provide additional stability to the proximal fragment. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 23.0. For evaluating the success of dynamisation Chi-square test was used. Results: The mean age of recruited patients was reported as 35.92 years ranging from 16 years to 63 years old. Out of these twenty cases, 17 were male (85%). The mean time duration of nailing was reported as 35.4 hours. Total fourteen patients were immediately treated with nailing within 20 hours of injury, while the rest six underwent delayed nailing. Total four cases of tibial fracture were turned out as failure because the patient failed to achieve union after dynamisation and underwent augmentation plating with bone grafting for the complete union. Conclusion: Delayed dynamisation is a convenient and cost-effective technique to achieve union in femoral shaft fractures. Overall, our study reported an 80% success rate but failed to achieve early dynamisation in comminuted fractures.

The influence of fracture location and comminution on acute scaphoid fracture displacement: three-dimensional CT analysis

We aimed to assess the influence of fracture location and comminution on acute scaphoid fracture displacement using three-dimensional CT. CT scans of 51 adults with an acute scaphoid fracture were included. Three-dimensional CT was used to assess fracture location, comminution and displacement. Fracture location was expressed as the height of the cortical breach on the volar and dorsal side of the scaphoid relative to total scaphoid length (%), corresponding to the fracture’s entry and exit point, respectively. We found a near-linear relation between dorsal fracture location and displacement. As dorsal fracture location became more distal, translation (ulnar, proximal, volar) and angulation (flexion, pronation) of the distal fragment relative to the proximal fragment increased. Comminuted fractures had more displacement. Dorsal fracture location predictably dictates the direction of translation and angulation in displaced scaphoid fractures. Surgeon attention to dorsal fracture location can help identify displacement patterns and provide guidance in adequately reducing a displaced scaphoid fracture. Level of evidence: III

Predictors of Failure for Vascularized and Nonvascularized Bone Grafting of Scaphoid Nonunions: A Systematic Review

Objective This article compares predictors of failure for vascularized (VBG) and nonvascularized bone grafting (NVBG) of scaphoid nonunions. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of outcomes after VBG and NVBG of scaphoid nonunion. Fifty-one VBG studies (N = 1,419 patients) and 81 NVBG studies (N = 3,019 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected on surgical technique, type of fixation, time from injury to surgery, fracture location, abnormal carpal posture (humpback deformity and/or dorsal intercalated segmental instability [DISI]), radiographic parameters of carpal alignment, prior failed surgery, smoking status, and avascular necrosis (AVN) as defined by punctate bleeding, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast, MRI without contrast, X-ray, and histology. Meta-analysis of proportions was conducted with Freeman–Tukey double arcsine transformation. Multilevel mixed-effects analyses were performed with univariable and multivariable Poisson regression to identify confounders and evaluate predictors of failure. Results The pooled failure incidence effect size was comparable between VBG and NVBG (0.09 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05–0.13] and 0.08 [95% CI 0.06–0.11], respectively). Humpback deformity and/or DISI (incidence-rate radios [IRRs] 1.57, CI: 1.04–2.36) and lateral intrascaphoid angle (IRR 1.21, CI: 1.08–1.37) were significantly associated with an increased VBG failure incidence. Time from injury to surgery (IRR 1.09, CI: 1.06–1.12) and height-to-length (H/L) ratio (IRR 53.98, CI: 1.16–2,504.24) were significantly associated with an increased NVBG failure incidence, though H/L ratio demonstrated a wide CI. Decreased proximal fragment contrast uptake on MRI was a statistically significant predictor of increased failure incidence for both VBG (IRR 2.03 CI: 1.13–3.66) and NVBG (IRR 1.39, CI: 1.16–1.66). Punctate bleeding or radiographic AVN, scapholunate angle, radiolunate angle, and prior failed surgery were not associated with failure incidence for either bone graft type (p > 0.05). Conclusion Humpback deformity and/or DISI and increasing lateral intrascaphoid angle may be predictors of VBG failure. Time from injury to surgery may be a predictor of NVBG failure. AVN as defined by decreased contrast uptake on MRI may be a marker of increased failure risk for both bone graft types.

Intra Focal K-Wiring for Distal End Radius (Kapandji Technique): Surgical Technique

Many years distal end radius fractures (DRF) are the most encountered type of fracture. In standard form, extra-articular distal end radius fractures were fixed after manual reduction and then pinned extra-articular by drilling distal cortex and passing fracture site to fix proximal fragment (Figure 1). But after 2 to 3 weeks depending upon osteoporosis fracture collapse(cancellous bone heal by collapse) and flexibility of the K wire distal fragment moves back until the K wire abut the inferior edge of the proximal fragment and does not avoid secondary displacement (Figure 2) [1].

Prediction and Development of Preventive Strategies for Lateral Hinge Fracture During Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy Based on Osteotomy Configurations

Background: Lateral hinge fracture (LHF) is a major complication of opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) and may result in poor outcomes. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to develop preventive strategies by identifying factors that affect LHFs. We hypothesized that (1) each LHF type would have different affecting factors and that (2) specific operative strategies that can contribute to the prevention of each LHF type can be developed. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 261 consecutive knees treated with biplanar OWHTO between March 2014 and December 2017. Perioperative radiological variables that can affect LHFs were measured and divided into 2 categories: unmodifiable and modifiable. A regression model was developed, and subgroup analyses involving comparisons between the non-LHF group and each LHF group were performed. The weightbearing line (WBL) ratio was measured at 2 weeks and 1 year after surgery to determine the serial changes in each LHF type. Results: A total of 66 knees (25.3%) were diagnosed with LHFs. From these, 26 (39.4%), 13 (19.7%), 15 (22.7%), and 12 (18.2%) showed type I, II, III, and I-variant LHFs, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, a larger posterior gap and distance X and a smaller fibular height (FH) were significant unmodifiable factors, while the retrotubercular thickness was a significant modifiable factor, for type I LHF. For type II LHF, a smaller lateral condylar slope and a larger distance X were significant unmodifiable factors, while the lateral distal fragment thickness and the osteotomy-condylar angle were significant modifiable factors. For type III LHF, a larger lateral condylar width and distance X and a smaller FH were significant unmodifiable factors, while the lateral proximal fragment thickness and the retrotubercular angle (RA) were significant modifiable factors. A smaller FH and a larger distance X were significant unmodifiable factors for type I-variant LHFs, while the lateral thickness ratio and the RA were significant modifiable factors. Between postoperative week 2 and 1 year, the WBL ratio decreased in cases with type I LHFs ( P < .001) and increased in those with type II ( P = .001) and type I-variant ( P = .006) LHFs. Conclusion: Unmodifiable and modifiable factors for the development of LHFs after OWHTO differ among LHF types. To prevent LHFs, the causes of each LHF must be identified, the patient’s specific geometry be considered in the preoperative planning, and the surgical technique be modified according to the modifiable factors. In addition, during the rehabilitation period after OWHTO, specific caution and close observation are necessary for alignment changes related to each LHF type.

The Lateral Femoral Wall Thickness on the Risk of Post-Operative Lateral Wall Fracture in Intertrochanteric Fracture: A Finite Element Analysis

Background Patients with a lateral femoral wall (LFW) fracture were reported to have high rates of re-operation and complication. Although the LFW thickness was a reliable predictor of post-operative or intra-operative LFW fracture, no biomechanical studies had evaluated the critical stress distributions on the femur and screws of intertrochanteric fractures treated with dynamic hip screw (DHS). This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical performance of intertrochanteric fractures with different LFW thickness treated with DHS device.Methods A three-dimensional model of the proximal femur was established by computed tomography images. The intertrochanteric fracture model with three different LFW thickness (10mm, 20.5mm and 30mm respectively) was created, which was fixed by DHS. The von Mises stress on the proximal femur, lateral femoral wall, DHS and the total displacement of the device components were evaluated and compared for three different LFW thickness model.Results The maximum von Mises stress in the proximal fragment of the 10mm and 20.5mm model increased by 80.56% and 57.97% when compared with the 30mm model. The peek von Mises stress around the blade entry point of the 10mm and 20.5mm model increased by 89.26% and 66.39% when compared with the 30mm model. The peek von Mises in the DHS located near the junction of the barrel and side plate of each model and the 30mm model had the smallest von Mises stress compared with the other two models. Furthermore, the maximum displacement in the 30mm model was much smaller than that in the10mm model and 20mm model.Conclusions The intertrochanteric fracture with a thinner LFW tended to have a higher risk of LFW fracture stabilized by a DHS device. Thus, the intertrochanteric fractures with a thinner LFW should not be treated by DHS alone and the intramedullary nail or an addition of trochanteric stabilization plate(TSP) was recommended.

Delayed Peroneal Neuropathy After Bosworth Fracture Dislocation of the Ankle

The Bosworth ankle fracture-dislocation is a rare injury and is often irreducible because of an entrapped proximal fragment of the fibula behind the posterior tibial tubercle. Repeated closed reduction or delayed open reduction may result in several complications. Thus, early open reduction and internal fixation enable a better outcome by minimizing soft-tissue damage. We report on a 27-year-old man who underwent open reduction and internal fixation after multiple attempts at failed closed reduction, complicated by severe soft-tissue swelling, rhabdomyolysis, and delayed peroneal nerve palsy around the ankle.

Unusual and nondescript type of distal clavicular fracture

Displaced fracture of the distal third of the clavicle usually occurs after direct trauma to the shoulder and typically results in superior displacement of the proximal fragment. We report a previously undescribed case of downward displacement of the clavicle caused by a fall on an outstretched hand, and we suggest the mechanism of injury.

How Many Proximal Screws Are Needed for a Stable Proximal Humerus Fracture Fixation?

Purpose: This biomechanical study investigates the optimal number of proximal screws for stable fixation of a 2-part proximal humerus fracture model with a locking plate. Methods: Twenty-four proximal humerus fracture models were included in the study. An unstable 2-part fracture was created and fixed by a locking plate. Cyclic loading and load-to-failure tests were used for the following 4 groups based on the number of screws used: 4-screw, 6-screw, 7-screw, and 9-screw groups. Interfragmentary gaps were measured following cyclic loading and compared. Consequently, the load to failure, maximum displacement, stiffness, and mode of failure at failure point were compared. Results: The interfragmentary gaps for the 4-screw, 6-screw, 7-screw, and 9-screw groups were significantly reduced by 0.24 ± 0.09 mm, 0.08 ± 0.06 mm, 0.05 ± 0.01 mm, and 0.03 ± 0.01 mm following 1000 cyclic loading, respectively. The loads to failure were significantly different between the groups with the 7-screw group showing the highest load to failure. The stiffness of the 7-screw group was superior compared with the 6-screw, 9-screw, and 4-screw groups. The maximum displacement before failure showed a significant difference between the comparative groups with the 4-screw group having the lowest value. The 7-screw group had the least structural failure rate (33.3%). Conclusion: At least 7 screws would be optimal for proximal fragment fixation of proximal humerus fractures with medial comminution to minimize secondary varus collapse or fixation failure. Level of Evidence: Basic science study.